from Pain to Pleasure (Gainesville Book 1) by Bella Jeanisse Page B
Authors: Bella Jeanisse
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thought nothing of it and grabbed a beer.
He pulled her with him to find his friends. When he introduced her to Gary, a football player who lived on their floor, she smiled with familiarity. She had always admired his long, braided hair and bright white smile.
Gary was a ladies’ man, but he knew to hold back around Danielle. Her eyes showed constant fear. He gave her a wide smile and winked when she blushed. “Hey, Alex, guess what? Coach P. saw you playing today.” That was the school’s running back coach.
Alex’s eyes opened wide. “Really? What’d he say?”
“He asked for your cell number. Sounds like he’s interested.” He slapped Alex on the back. “It’d be so cool if you played this year.”
Danielle took Alex’s arm. “Yeah, it would be.”
Gary gave her a once-over, and his eyebrows went up. He loved white girls with nice curves. Too bad Alex was already after her. He didn’t mess with his friends’ women unless they asked him to. “I know you can outrun Will.”
After a few minutes of football talk, they moved on and ended up out back. “Just wanted you to see how beautiful it was out here.” Alex led her around the in-ground pool, and then to the screen enclosure that separated it from the backyard. “Some of the guys go kayaking in that lake,” he explained as the large lake beyond came into view.
“It’s amazing.” The sun had just set, and the sky was a rainbow of colors. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like if she dated Alex instead of Brian. Then she jumped when he put his arms around her from behind. “No. Don’t.”
He backed up and put his hands on the horizontal support next to hers. “I promise no one will let his friends in. We’re safe here.”
“It’s not just that,” she tried to explain.
There was so much more to her fear of being with Alex than just Brian finding out. She didn’t know how to put it in words. Then she realized she led him on somewhat. His support comforted her. She had let her guard down. He obviously had a thing for her. I have to tell him we’ll never be together . It hurt to even think it. However, she couldn’t risk that Brian would hurt him. He already meant too much to her. Wow. I have a thing for him, too. That’s not good . She closed her eyes and stepped away from him a bit more. Her hands squirmed.
He sighed and realized he had moved too fast for her. She shivered. He knew it wasn’t from the cold. I must be scaring the hell out of her . “Sorry.” He moved to stand next to her and glanced at her outfit. “Why do you always wear pants? It’s pretty hot out this week.”
She bit her lip and looked away. It was something she never liked to reveal. She usually wore clothes that covered her scars. At least when she chose her outfit. Only Brian and his friends had seen them up close. Then she flinched as she felt the belt hit the back of her thigh. The pain was so real, even in a memory.
Alex reacted quickly. He took her into his arms as soon as a tear fell. “I’m so sorry I asked.” He held her as long as she let him. “I promise I’ll never hurt you.” He breathed deeply to hide how he seethed within. I’m gonna kill him . She feared everything, and that wasn’t a good way to live.
Danielle fought the tears hard. He didn’t need to know what she had been through all her life. She wouldn’t burden him with her problems. She had to keep them hidden like always. Although that was hard to do when he asked so many questions. I just have to learn not to answer them .
“Do you wanna go back inside?” Alex asked, when it seemed like she was calm.
She looked at him. “Yes. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For just being my friend. I really need one.”
He squeezed her tightly. “You’re welcome. Thanks for being mine, too.”
* * *
Several hours later, Alex stood in Danielle’s doorway again. He didn’t want the night to end yet. They had grown closer with her revelation. He scanned the
He pulled her with him to find his friends. When he introduced her to Gary, a football player who lived on their floor, she smiled with familiarity. She had always admired his long, braided hair and bright white smile.
Gary was a ladies’ man, but he knew to hold back around Danielle. Her eyes showed constant fear. He gave her a wide smile and winked when she blushed. “Hey, Alex, guess what? Coach P. saw you playing today.” That was the school’s running back coach.
Alex’s eyes opened wide. “Really? What’d he say?”
“He asked for your cell number. Sounds like he’s interested.” He slapped Alex on the back. “It’d be so cool if you played this year.”
Danielle took Alex’s arm. “Yeah, it would be.”
Gary gave her a once-over, and his eyebrows went up. He loved white girls with nice curves. Too bad Alex was already after her. He didn’t mess with his friends’ women unless they asked him to. “I know you can outrun Will.”
After a few minutes of football talk, they moved on and ended up out back. “Just wanted you to see how beautiful it was out here.” Alex led her around the in-ground pool, and then to the screen enclosure that separated it from the backyard. “Some of the guys go kayaking in that lake,” he explained as the large lake beyond came into view.
“It’s amazing.” The sun had just set, and the sky was a rainbow of colors. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like if she dated Alex instead of Brian. Then she jumped when he put his arms around her from behind. “No. Don’t.”
He backed up and put his hands on the horizontal support next to hers. “I promise no one will let his friends in. We’re safe here.”
“It’s not just that,” she tried to explain.
There was so much more to her fear of being with Alex than just Brian finding out. She didn’t know how to put it in words. Then she realized she led him on somewhat. His support comforted her. She had let her guard down. He obviously had a thing for her. I have to tell him we’ll never be together . It hurt to even think it. However, she couldn’t risk that Brian would hurt him. He already meant too much to her. Wow. I have a thing for him, too. That’s not good . She closed her eyes and stepped away from him a bit more. Her hands squirmed.
He sighed and realized he had moved too fast for her. She shivered. He knew it wasn’t from the cold. I must be scaring the hell out of her . “Sorry.” He moved to stand next to her and glanced at her outfit. “Why do you always wear pants? It’s pretty hot out this week.”
She bit her lip and looked away. It was something she never liked to reveal. She usually wore clothes that covered her scars. At least when she chose her outfit. Only Brian and his friends had seen them up close. Then she flinched as she felt the belt hit the back of her thigh. The pain was so real, even in a memory.
Alex reacted quickly. He took her into his arms as soon as a tear fell. “I’m so sorry I asked.” He held her as long as she let him. “I promise I’ll never hurt you.” He breathed deeply to hide how he seethed within. I’m gonna kill him . She feared everything, and that wasn’t a good way to live.
Danielle fought the tears hard. He didn’t need to know what she had been through all her life. She wouldn’t burden him with her problems. She had to keep them hidden like always. Although that was hard to do when he asked so many questions. I just have to learn not to answer them .
“Do you wanna go back inside?” Alex asked, when it seemed like she was calm.
She looked at him. “Yes. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For just being my friend. I really need one.”
He squeezed her tightly. “You’re welcome. Thanks for being mine, too.”
* * *
Several hours later, Alex stood in Danielle’s doorway again. He didn’t want the night to end yet. They had grown closer with her revelation. He scanned the
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